Most people welcome something fun or, better yet, funny as the end of a work week approaches. Rather than deal with the touchy topic of Friday the 13th, I instead share a few of the strangest church laws found in our land.
- In Boston, it is against the law to eat peanuts while in church.
- In Omaha, it’s illegal to sneeze or burp during a church service.
- In Texas, it is illegal to go to church in disguise.
- In Mississippi, private citizens may arrest anyone who disturbs a church service.
- In Nicholas County, West Virginia, clergy members may not tell jokes or humorous stories from the pulpit during church services.
So What?
I confess I made no real effort to verify whether any of the laws noted above are still on the books. I am sure (or at least hope!) none are enforced with any regularity.
What rules have you encountered in churches that struck you as inappropriate, odd, or outdated?